About Martin

Assistant Curator of Astronomy, based at the Yorkshire Museum

Background

I obtained my Science Degree through the Open University while working for British Railways in the early 1980s. I have since worked for the civil service before transferring to York in 1988 to the Yorkshire Museum, first as an attendant, then as Honorary Curator of Astronomy before my present position.

Interests

High latitude Novae and cataclysmic variable stars

Why I wanted to be a curator

To be able to share my love of astronomy with as many people who wanted to hear about the subject. In addition to preserve astronomy at the Yorkshire Museum for future generations.

Favourite part of my job

Using the telescope in the York Observatory and watching peoples reactions when they first look through it.

Favourite museum object

The Middlesbrough Meteorite. Although it is not on permanent display it is literally out of this world. Can you imagine touching an object four billion years old?

Historical idol

There are three people I have come to respect.

Thomas Cooke, the telescope maker who lived in York, taught himself to build telescopes and was one of the greatest telescope makes of all time. He also made what at the time was the largest telescope ever built.

John Goodricke, the deaf astronomer who lived at the Treasurer's House, together with Edward Pigot, who in the 1780s became the fathers of variable star astronomy and made York for a few brief years one of the astronomical centres of the world. It would be impossible to write a better soap opera than with these two characters.

Proudest moment

Receiving the MBE for services to astronomy and education